The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1887-03-23
Pastoral Life in the Colony Of Belize.

On the eastern frontier of Guatemala,
in British Honduras, there is stretch
OF beautiful country very rarely visited.
nifty feet above the level of the sea,
there Is lovely park-like scenery, with
bubbling springs and grassy hills, where
herds OF cattle Craze all day long.
Years ago that place was the site of
great empire; here and there founda-
tions of massive stone walls rise out of
the ground, mementos of bygone
splendor. while every surrounding hill
has its legend.
The present inhabitants, descendants
OF the great Maya nation, lead life of
pastoral simplicity. tending their focks
and only cultivating the ground enough
to support their actual wants. Intoxi-
eating liquor is not allowed among
them, while vice and crime are almost
unknown. The largest village, Santo
Toribio, has about fifteen hundred in
habitants and is called the capital.
The government of Guatemala seldom
interferes with these villages, the dis
trict being regarded as unimportant In
dian territory, but each village an
Election day is celebrated with much
rejoicing, just as it used to be before
Europeans came to America. The
Spanish chroniclers tell us that it was
then customary for those going out OF
Office to give banquet to their sue
cessors, and at the present time the
authorities of those villages always
spread banquet on election day. The
entire repast is placed on the table at
once, except the tortillas Fresh sup
plies of these are brought, steaming
hot, to the table every few minutes.
Only men take part in this feast Of the
politicians, and boys wait on them. In
the evening the hall is cleared for
dancing then the women and girls APP
pear. They are dressed in loose, white
cotton garments, trimmed with colored
embroidery and have bright-colored
scarfs around their shoulders. Bulk
seems to be their idea of elegance, for
each has several very full skirts, all
stiffiy starched. Their gold ornaments,
earrings. necklaces, and finger-rings
are very numerous, made from ore
found in their native soil. Some of
the girls are beautiful, though all are
short in stature like the men. The
musical instrument most used by these
people is the marimba, played after
the manner of dulcimer, but made of
wood and pieces of hide. The tones of
the marimba are plaintive, sweet. and
melodious. 1t can be heard long dis
lance in the still night air.
The women sit round the room, but
the men stand in groups. When the
dancing is to commence one of them
only advances to the middle of the
floor and mods at the woman he desires
for partner. She leaves her seat and
goes to face him, standing few feet
off. They perform a Jig, hardly NOV
ing their body, though the steps are
varied and rapid; occasionally they
exchange places. but they never clasp
hands. Without even looking ut her
partner the woman returns to her seat
when the fancy takes her, and he,
without changing his position, invites
some one else by nod, for he is ex-
pected to remain on foot till the music
ceases. Then another takes his place
so dancing is kept up till midnight, all
conducting themselves with the great
est decorum, but merry peas of laugh
ter are heard now and again, and
everyone seems perfectly happy,
chatting gayly as they wend their way
homeward in the soft moonlight
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